Public goods problem

A social dilemma that arises when individuals have incentives to under-contribute to or free-ride on goods that benefit everyone, leading to their disinvestment and/or deterioration. The problem stems from the inherent characteristics of public goods and the rational self-interest of individuals. (Chapter 4, p. 129)*

*Terms defined for the Nurturing Online Communities (NOC) course include a chapter reference to the course text Building Successful Online Communities by Kraut and Resnick.

Citation: Center for Scientific Collaboration and Community Engagement. (2025) CSCCE Glossary: Nurturing Online Communities. Santistevan, Pratt, and Woodley doi: 10.5281/zenodo.17137478

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